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William Carey University

William Carey University is a private campus in Hattiesburg proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. The school reports a Baptist affiliation in its federal filings.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$15,423

family income
under $30k

$16,219

$30–48k

$15,717

$48–75k

$18,865

$75–110k

$19,800

over $110k

These figures don't always rise with income — aid formulas can make a higher bracket cheaper.

Average net price

$14,2582023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at William Carey University has wandered from 2008 to 2023 — up to $18,905 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at $14,258.

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$14,511
2009	$13,809
2010	$14,601
2011	$14,656
2012	$15,487
2013	$16,740
2014	$16,557
2015	$17,348
2016	$17,954
2017	$18,905
2018	$13,000
2019	$14,284
2020	$10,886
2021	$14,200
2022	$17,052
2023	$14,258

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$29,6512024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at William Carey University rose from $22,392 (2009) to $29,651 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$22,392
2010	$22,376
2011	$23,021
2012	$23,070
2013	$23,962
2014	$24,941
2015	$24,959
2016	$25,731
2017	$26,640
2018	$27,585
2019	$22,367
2020	$23,334
2021	$23,738
2022	$28,491
2023	$30,846
2024	$29,651

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$6,780
2001	$7,305
2002	$7,665
2003	$7,815
2004	$8,115
2005	$8,415
2006	$8,715
2007	$9,015
2008	$9,750
2013	$10,800
2014	$11,400
2015	$11,700
2016	$11,700
2017	$12,300
2018	$12,600
2019	$12,750
2020	$13,650
2021	$14,100
2022	$14,685
2023	$14,685

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Reported tuition is $15,480 before grants and other attendance costs. At William Carey University, aid and other costs change the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 2,201 undergrads, William Carey University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

59.8% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at William Carey University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

59.8%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at William Carey University rose from 27.4% (entered 1991) to 59.8% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	27.4%
1992 cohort	37.4%
1993 cohort	30.8%
1994 cohort	45.7%
1995 cohort	42.4%
1996 cohort	46.7%
1997 cohort	32.6%
1998 cohort	45.4%
1999 cohort	38.7%
2000 cohort	35.8%
2001 cohort	40.3%
2002 cohort	41.8%
2003 cohort	48.1%
2004 cohort	41.8%
2005 cohort	51%
2006 cohort	57.7%
2007 cohort	62%
2008 cohort	58.5%
2009 cohort	54.1%
2010 cohort	46.4%
2011 cohort	56.9%
2012 cohort	47.4%
2013 cohort	47%
2014 cohort	53.4%
2015 cohort	60.3%
2016 cohort	41.7%
2017 cohort	40.8%
2018 cohort	59.8%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$15,125	$4,818
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$14,434	$4,417
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$14,134	$5,000
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$12,482	$5,186
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$12,354	$5,000
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$12,667	$5,000
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$14,334	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$16,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$15,999	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$14,334	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$14,537	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$15,473	$5,084
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$16,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$17,337	$6,250
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$19,700	$6,250
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$19,500	$6,833
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$19,666	$7,167
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$20,000	$7,775
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$19,646	$9,375
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$20,832	$12,000
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$21,957	$10,729
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$20,832	$9,595
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$21,000	$8,834
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$20,832	$9,375

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$37,639

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$41,079

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$43,087

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

William Carey University admitted 507 of 841 applicants in Fall 2024. The 60.3% rate describes that application pool.

60.3%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $14,685 tuition · 2023–24 2,201 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Tests required · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 1040–12901600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, William Carey University received 841 applications and admitted 507 (60.3%), with 245 enrolling.

William Carey University reported required test scores for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. William Carey University's ranges describe enrolled submitters, not all applicants or admitted students.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	540	610	690
SAT Math	500	540	600
ACT Composite	19	22	25

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

60.3%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	63.6%
Fall 2002	60.6%
Fall 2003	63.2%
Fall 2004	87.1%
Fall 2005	99%
Fall 2006	95.1%
Fall 2007	93%
Fall 2008	89.8%
Fall 2009	92.7%
Fall 2010	92.3%
Fall 2011	82.8%
Fall 2012	27.4%
Fall 2013	48.8%
Fall 2014	50.4%
Fall 2015	56.9%
Fall 2016	51%
Fall 2017	48.8%
Fall 2018	67.9%
Fall 2019	55%
Fall 2020	55.3%
Fall 2021	57.5%
Fall 2022	53.6%
Fall 2023	58%
Fall 2024	60.3%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1040–1290Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	870	980
Fall 2002	800	1080
Fall 2003	870	1060
Fall 2004	920	1060
Fall 2005	840	1200
Fall 2006	860	1060
Fall 2007	850	1120
Fall 2008	820	1170
Fall 2009	910	1140
Fall 2010	880	1030
Fall 2011	910	1130
Fall 2012	880	1070
Fall 2014	870	1180
Fall 2015	810	1080
Fall 2016	860	1070
Fall 2017	990	1160
Fall 2018	930	1150
Fall 2019	950	1180
Fall 2020	1050	1330
Fall 2021	980	1320
Fall 2022	1050	1320
Fall 2023	880	1200
Fall 2024	1040	1290

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

19–25Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	18	23
Fall 2002	18	23
Fall 2003	18	25
Fall 2004	18	24
Fall 2005	19	25
Fall 2006	19	24
Fall 2007	19	26
Fall 2008	20	28
Fall 2009	21	28
Fall 2010	20	27
Fall 2011	21	25
Fall 2012	20	25
Fall 2013	20	28
Fall 2014	20	27
Fall 2015	20	27
Fall 2016	21	27
Fall 2017	21	28
Fall 2018	21	29
Fall 2019	20	28
Fall 2020	20	27
Fall 2021	21	29
Fall 2022	20	29
Fall 2023	20	27
Fall 2024	19	25

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

2,201Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at William Carey University rose from 1,539 (Fall 2002) to 2,201 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	1,539
Fall 2003	1,733
Fall 2004	1,837
Fall 2005	1,555
Fall 2006	1,649
Fall 2007	1,706
Fall 2008	1,839
Fall 2009	2,090
Fall 2010	2,284
Fall 2011	2,215
Fall 2012	2,230
Fall 2013	2,166
Fall 2014	2,039
Fall 2015	2,047
Fall 2016	2,087
Fall 2017	2,086
Fall 2018	2,050
Fall 2019	2,063
Fall 2020	2,101
Fall 2021	1,960
Fall 2022	1,772
Fall 2023	1,818
Fall 2024	2,201

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

78%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at William Carey University rose from 70% (Fall 2003) to 78% (Fall 2023).

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2003 cohort	70%
Fall 2004 cohort	56%
Fall 2005 cohort	71%
Fall 2006 cohort	75%
Fall 2007 cohort	75%
Fall 2008 cohort	74%
Fall 2009 cohort	77%
Fall 2010 cohort	77%
Fall 2011 cohort	76%
Fall 2012 cohort	77%
Fall 2013 cohort	72%
Fall 2014 cohort	81%
Fall 2015 cohort	83%
Fall 2016 cohort	85%
Fall 2017 cohort	85%
Fall 2018 cohort	100%
Fall 2019 cohort	84%
Fall 2020 cohort	87%
Fall 2021 cohort	80%
Fall 2022 cohort	80%
Fall 2023 cohort	78%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2003–2023

More about William Carey University

27.1% of William Carey University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes William Carey University as a primarily residential campus of 2,201 undergraduates — and 77.9% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

William Carey University's SAT section-percentile sums are 1040–1290 — their midpoint is above the MS four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on William Carey University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How William Carey University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

William Carey University60.3%

Mississippi median77.6%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

William Carey University$15,480

Mississippi median$10,202

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

William Carey University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

William Carey University$43,087

Mississippi median$42,539

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

William Carey University, Mississippi and national reference values
Metric & basis	William Carey University	Mississippi median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	60.3%	77.6%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$15,480	$10,202	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$43,087	$42,539	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For William Carey University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

William Carey University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 8 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$82,147
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$61,978
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$51,866
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$51,430
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$47,152
Biology, General	$46,598
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$42,389
Psychology, General	$38,325

These 8 fields listed for William Carey University measure earnings after completion. The $43,087 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 22 additional William Carey University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does William Carey University report?

William Carey University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 1040–1290 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is William Carey University's acceptance rate?

60.3% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 507 admitted from 841 applicants.

How much does William Carey University cost?

At William Carey University, tuition is $15,480. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does William Carey University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $43,087. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Mississippi

Mississippi State University — 77.6% admitted
Tougaloo College — 59.9% admitted
University of Southern Mississippi — 99.1% admitted
Southeastern Baptist College — 100% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.